Amusement and Theme Parks

Industry Summary

The Amusement and Theme Parks industry is experiencing greater than average employment growth as of late. In 2014 the government estimated a total of 172,021 workers, then just 12 months later it had climbed to 179,149, an increase of 4.14%. On average over the last five years, the Amusement and Theme Parks industry has a slightly higher OSHA reported accident rate (6% more) than the broader Amusement Parks and Arcades Industry

The accident investigation below was opened on Thursday, November 2nd 2017 by OSHA representitives in Buena Park, CA after learning of an incident at Cedar Fair L.P. which had occured on Tuesday, October 31st 2017. A 19 year old had been injured when the employee suffered leg laceration and contusions when struck b
OSHA ID103129.015
Accident Date2017-10-31
Accident DegreeNon Hospitalized injury
NarrativeAt 12:45 a.m. on October 31, 2017, Employee #1 was working at an amusement park on the "Halloween Haunt", acting as a scare talent actor, scaring customers attending the event. The employee was using an 11 foot SRL and body belt for fall restraint. The employee thought the ride had ended for the day and unhooked himself and put his fall protection away. As he looked back, he heard more people coming into the ride area. The employee stumbled and fell into the log flume and was struck by multiple flume logs. The employee sustained a laceration and contusion to his leg.
On Thursday, November 30th 2017 OSHA reps took a report of a serious accident in Anaheim, CA which had occured previously at Walt Disney Parks And Resorts U.S. Inc.. A 63 year old Cook had been injured when the
OSHA ID103053.015
Accident Date2017-09-07
Accident DegreeHospitalized injury
NarrativeThe employer is an amusement park/resort that operates multiple cooling towers on its property. An existing cooling tower (CT2), and a newly constructed cooling tower (CT4), were brought back online for intermittent operations and mixing of waters, for adjusting. During this time, the employer was not effectively performing weekly bacteria inspections and had several days and weeks where the cooling towers were taken off line for maintenance. At 3:30 p.m. on September 7, 2017, Employee #1 was performing his duties as a cook, in his normal workplace, within 200 feet of the cooling towers. His normal path of travel during his day took him near and around the cooling towers. Employee #2 was performing his duties as an operating engineer who operated a steam locomotive amusement ride, within 50 feet of the cooling towers, at an elevated location near the fan exhaust of the cooling towers. Employee #3 was performing his duties as a maintenance laborer, within 200 feet, with travel back and forth next to the cooling towers. All three employees became ill and were diagnosed with Legionnaires Disease. Prior to employee illnesses, the old cooling tower (CT2) had been drained, but not the pipes underneath the tower, and the water became stagnant and infected with Legionella bacteria. All three employees were exposed to airborne Legionella on or about the August/September 2017 timeframe. Employees #1 and #3 were admitted to the hospital for treatment for more than 24 hours and Employee #2 was treated in the emergency room and released.
OSHA investigators arrived in Anaheim, CA on Thursday, November 30th 2017 and began an accident investigation at Walt Disney Parks And Resorts U.S. Inc.. A 45 year old Machinery maintenance occupation had been injured when the
OSHA ID103053.015
Accident Date2017-09-07
Accident DegreeNon Hospitalized injury
NarrativeThe employer is an amusement park/resort that operates multiple cooling towers on its property. An existing cooling tower (CT2), and a newly constructed cooling tower (CT4), were brought back online for intermittent operations and mixing of waters, for adjusting. During this time, the employer was not effectively performing weekly bacteria inspections and had several days and weeks where the cooling towers were taken off line for maintenance. At 3:30 p.m. on September 7, 2017, Employee #1 was performing his duties as a cook, in his normal workplace, within 200 feet of the cooling towers. His normal path of travel during his day took him near and around the cooling towers. Employee #2 was performing his duties as an operating engineer who operated a steam locomotive amusement ride, within 50 feet of the cooling towers, at an elevated location near the fan exhaust of the cooling towers. Employee #3 was performing his duties as a maintenance laborer, within 200 feet, with travel back and forth next to the cooling towers. All three employees became ill and were diagnosed with Legionnaires Disease. Prior to employee illnesses, the old cooling tower (CT2) had been drained, but not the pipes underneath the tower, and the water became stagnant and infected with Legionella bacteria. All three employees were exposed to airborne Legionella on or about the August/September 2017 timeframe. Employees #1 and #3 were admitted to the hospital for treatment for more than 24 hours and Employee #2 was treated in the emergency room and released.

OSHA Inspection Activity

Accident Rate

5 Year Average
6.95
Last 12 Months
0

Reporting Statistics

Inspection Records: 490
185.7%
Inspection Rate: 3.37
Violation Records:
Accident Records: 107